During Prattville High School's graduation Friday night, Principal Richard Dennis pulled Christy Christian aside for a few brief seconds as he presented her diploma.

He had more than 400 diplomas to hand out during the ceremony, and more than 400 hands to shake.

"I just wanted Christy to know how proud I was of her and all that she had accomplished," Dennis said in his office Monday morning. "She had a hard life growing up. She worked hard, and was ready to go into the Army.

"That night she was doing what she always did, she was smiling. And then I got the call Sunday afternoon. Loosing a student is the worst thing that can happen to an educator."

Christian, 18, died in a single vehicle accident about 3 a.m. Sunday in Chilton County. She was driving a 2005 Nissan Altima in the southbound lanes of I-65 about two miles north of Clanton when it left the road and overturned, said Sgt. Steve Jarrett, a spokesman with the Alabama Dept. of Public Safety. She was not wearing a seatbelt. The passenger in the car, Layton Smitherman, was transported to the University of Alabama in Birmingham hospital to be treated for his injuries, Jarrett said. Telephone calls placed to UAB Monday morning seeking an update on his condition were not returned.

Christian was looking forward to going off to basic training this summer, Dennis said. After basic she was going to take training as an animal care specialist, he said.

That was a perfect career choice for her, said Jason Pease, operating partner at the Moe's Southwest Grill in Prattville. Christian had worked there for two years before quitting two weeks ago to wrap up things at school and have a little break before going into the service, Pease said. Her nickname at the restaurant was "Smiley".

"It fit her because she was always smiling," Pease said. "She loved animals so she made the right choice with what she wanted to pursue. She was a sweet, sweet girl. All the customers loved her. We've had several of them come by or call today very upset about what has taken place.

"She really didn't get into her family situation, but we knew she was helping out with a younger brother and sister. I never heard her complain about anything, not one time. She was a hard worker and she loved her customers. And she was always smiling."

Her loss has hit the city hard as well.

Prattville has only one high school, with an enrollment of about 2,100. So the students are "ours", said Tina Watkins, of Prattville. She was at Fox's Pizza, a popular downtown eatery Monday, picking up lunch for a gathering of teenagers having a pool party at her house.

"We have a 16-year-old and a 14-year-old at home," she said, shivering as she thought of Christian's death. "You don't want to smother them. But when something like this happens, you also don't want to let them out of your sight."

Things were busy at the front office of Prattville High Monday, since summer school was kicking off. But there's was a note of sadness in the building.

"This is a somber day," Dennis said, catching his breath. "It hurts to talk about it. It has hit us all very hard. Especially some of our younger teachers who knew Christy well and were close to her. It's a very bad day."

Funeral arrangements are still being decided. Dennis said the local Army recruitment office is working for Christian to have military funeral.